Salat - The Muslim Prayer Book — Page 20
20 S al a t —The Muslim Prayer Book he would do at the end. Then he would pour water at least three times on the right side of his body, followed by three times on the left. He bathed so meticulously that every pore of every part of his body was washed thoroughly. In all such conditions where bathing becomes obligatory, one can neither perform Prayer without bathing nor enter the mosque, nor recite the Holy Quran. Exception is made for women during their periods as far as the reading of the Holy Quran is concerned. They can read the Holy Quran but are advised not to touch it with their bare hands. WATER Water to be used for ablution and bathing should be clean and salubrious. Stagnant or polluted water may not be used. However, when salubrious water is not available and people are forced to use whatever water is available, the same can also be used for ablution and bath. DRESS During Prayer, one’s body should be decently covered, particularly the private parts and the areas around them. In case of men, this can be defined as an area of body beginning from the navel down to the end of the knee-cap. As far as women are concerned, they should cover their entire body, including their arms but excluding the hands and feet. However, when praying at home or among other women, they do not have to cover their faces.